“From my stance we should be separate because of terrorism and problems with terrorism,” Aaron Pena said. “We do have to have secure borders and not just have people roaming back and forth.”

After the speech, Baustista spoke to reporters about the Minuteman Project. Hundreds of American volunteers, many legally carrying guns and waving flags, are keeping watch around the clock until the end of the month along a 23-mile stretch of border between Arizona and Mexico. The volunteers reportedly are intimidating illegal aliens with their presence and alerting the Border Patrol via cell phones or radios when they see people crossing.

“Because (the Minutemen) feel frustrated or whatever reason they are doing this,” Baustista said. “They are trying to take the [drug] war into their own hands.

“One thing I can tell you is that the U.S. of the 21st century is not the U.S. of the 19th century.”

The official added he hopes the group and its members are prosecuted.

Baustista said he thinks the war on drugs is being won thanks to Mexico’s efforts.

“I think the (drug) war is slowly being won,” he told reporters. “What we have done in Mexico is got the heads of the larger organizations right now and we pursue them very strongly and work in very close association with U.S. authorities. But it doesn’t mean it’s going to be an easy win. It’s going to be a tough win.”